Nevado Puca Punta 5,740m 4D/3N

Nevado Puca Punta is one of the more technical peaks in the area. It is a picturesque, steep, pyramid shaped mountain with a knife ridge crux that requires delicate, exposed climbing and is 5 rope lengths. The route continues on the same ridge from Caracol, but be prepared for a long day of around 14 hours roundtrip.

The itinerary:

Day 1 Cusco – Pacchanta

We leave Cusco at noon in a private transport and arrive to Tinqui in the afternoon. From there we take a taxi to the herding community of Pacchanta (4,236m) and spend the night in a local house close to geothermal baths.

Day 2 Pacchanta - Base Camp (4,900m)

At 9am we start our trek to base camp with our arriero carrying the equipment on a horse. The trail (9km) passes through several green-blue lagoons at the foot of Nevado Ausangate and arrives at a base camp at the foot of the mountain (4,900m).

Day 3 Summit – Return to Pacchanta

We wake up at 1am and leave the tent by 2am. The climb could take 14 hours depending on the pace and the route. The descent will take another three hours or so. We will eat lunch and return to Pacchanta.

Day 4 Pacchanta – Cusco

We may sleep in until necessary and then take our transportation back to Cusco in the late morning. For lunch we can stop at the Mercado in Tinqui on our way back.